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Fresh NRC Not Required In Assam If Supreme Court Allows 20% Re-Verification, Says Minister

Assam had asked the Supreme Court to reverify 20 percent of the names of those in border districts but the plea was denied.

 Villagers of Gorbheter and Bherveri, whose names are missing in the final list of National Register of Citizenship (NRC), stage a protest over non-inclusion of their names, at Gorbeter in Baska district of Assam. (Source PTI)
Villagers of Gorbheter and Bherveri, whose names are missing in the final list of National Register of Citizenship (NRC), stage a protest over non-inclusion of their names, at Gorbeter in Baska district of Assam. (Source PTI)

Assam government on Monday said there will be no need for the state to be a part of the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens if the Supreme Court allows re-verification of its 20 percent names from the border districts.

The state government does not accept the existing NRC, the final version of which was published on Aug. 31 with over 19 lakh exclusions, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told a press conference.

"If the Supreme Court accepts our demand of 20 percent re-verification in border districts, we (Assam) don't need a national one. We are sure lots of mistakes will be found out in the re-verification process," he said.

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The Assam government had earlier submitted an affidavit in the apex court praying for re-verification of 20 percent names in the draft NRC in border districts, but the plea was denied.

"The Prime Minister yesterday said there is no plan for a nation-wide NRC. So we have to pursue only in the Supreme Court. If it does not listen to us, we will have to approach the Government of India.

The NRC was published under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

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